Bedspring structure



Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLARD 0RD LATHROP, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO BEDSPBINGSTRUCTURE.

Application filedvAugust 8, 1927. Serial No. 211,445.

This invention relates to bed-spring structures in which upright conicalor helical Wire springs are used between supporting-frames and each ofsuch springs is closely-wound and in contracted horizontal diameter atits middle portion (mid-height, so to speak) so that a telescoping orsocketing cross-intersection of tie-devices can be employed within saidrespective closely-wound and contracted middle portions and therebysimply, economically and effectively preserve or maintain the constantperpendicular alignment of said springs and amply prevent their saggingor lateral displacement, shifting, or distortion, while not otherwisematerially affecting their desired and intended resiliency for continuedor extended comfortable compression-use. The specific and referred formof interlocking. and stabilizing device herein will be fully describedin connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure lis a plan view of a miniature assembly of bed or seat springs, showingthe usual border-frames for their properlyrelated support and with theintersecting lock-tie vdevices embodying my improvement herein inworking position; ig. 2, an end elevation of Fig. 1, bringing moreclearly to view my improved tie-feature; Fig. 3, a side elevation ofFig. 1, but at right-angles to Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a fragmentary elevationof the central closely-Wound and contracted portion ofan adjoining pairof spiral springs to which my invention is especially adapted,

and showing one end of the unbent or straight of the said arched orhumped and U-crimped tional elevation of one attaching-end of the saidunbent or straight cross-tie wire and showing, insection, its engagingintersectingrelation with the said arched-portion of the longitudinalwire but omitting the springs;

F i g. 8, an elevation of one of the longitudinal special form'of archedand U-cr1mped wires used n my improved binding intersections forbed-springs; Fig. 9, a longitudinal elevation of the straight cross-tiewireused in my. special form of binding-intersections; and Fig. 10, afull-size fragmentary sectional elevation, taken on the dotted-line 10,10, of Fig. 4, of the improved assembled cross-tie or compositeintersection herein, showing the 7 said eloselyqvound and contractedcentral portion of the spring in section, the arched and U-crimped unitof one of thelongitudinal tie-wires in engagement with said closelywound and contracted. central portion of the spring and a cross-sectionof one of the said unbent or straightv oross-tie Wires in inter: lockingengagement with the said arched portionofits ooacting longitudinalbindingwire.

A indicates each one of the vperpendicular spiral springs used in a bedor othersimilarcushioned structure that I have shown, for immediateexample and convenience, on a small scale in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, inassembled form on a pair of angle-irons a, a, that are i connected bymeans of a longitudinal series of transverse bars or rods B on which therows of spirals are mounted, the latter as best seen in Fig. 2.-

I The springs shown are conical from their broad upper ends or top coilsdown to their closely-wound cylindrical middle portions or centersC andthence arecyl-indrical orof the same uniform horizontal diameter asportions C down to their lower ends or bases 6 that are ordinarilyhooked to the said transverse bars B. The said middle portions C of thesprings comprise a plurality of closely- -wou nd and contracted,strengtheenhancing form of very simple, economical and effective 1interlockingdntersections of tie and binding wires that I will nowproceed to briefly and specifically describe.

In Fig. 8, I best show the peculiar or preferred form of longitudinalwires 11, and, in Fig. 9, I best show the peculiar or preferred form ofcross or transverse tie-wires 12 used in said severalinterlocking-intersections of the spring-structure herein. The saidlongitudinal Wires 11 have a series of straight or unbent portions 13that are alternated by upwardly-arched or hump portions 14, the latterbeing flanked by depressed crimps or socket-members 15, 15, of Ushape.The said straight portions 13 lie between the central contracted coilsC, and the said crimps 15, 15 form sockets or seats for the latter, withthe said arched or hump portions 14 extending upwardly and snuglyencased within the said central contracted coils C, as best seen inFigs. and 10. The said arch-mcmbers 14: have their higl'i-point 1 1extending approxin'iately the thickness of the spring wire above thelevel of the top coil of said contracted middle section C of therespective springs for the reception of the straight cross-tie wires 12that lie transversely in the bed-structure and readily pass through thelower coils of the conical upper sections of the springs for duehookingengagement at their opposite ends 1%, 12, with the said lowercoils of the conical upper sections of the border springs that lie alongthe opposite sides of. the bed, the latter feature being as best seen inFigs. 1 and 2. In assembling the intersecting wires, the 1011'-gitudinal arched and crimped wires 11 are each inserted from the side ofthe row or series of contracted spring-centers C, after lining thearched-portions up with each of the latter the length of the bed andthen inserting the arches or humps into place in each chamber or casingformed by said central contracted coils C with the latter resting in therespective side-crimps 15 and then the transverse straight wires 12,with unbent ends, are easily inserted through the open lower coils ofthe conical upper sections of the row of springs until they passentirely across all the springs in that row, so that their opposite ends12 can then be bent upwardly into hookform. as best seen in Figs. 2, 4and 7, and thus completing the interlocking of the spirals at theircentral closely-wound and strong contracted portions, proof against anylateral or torsional displacement or any sagging of the spirals fromtheir true perpendicular standing-support on the lower cross-bars B.

It will be well observed, in Fig. 7, how very simple the intersectionsof tie-wires here in are for eflecting the ready united interlooking orcoupling of the cluster of perpendicular cushioning-springs in abed-structure that cannot sag or sway sidewise, but must always rise andfall in a perfectly perpendicular path on the compression of thespring-units by a weight of any kind on the bed. The spring-structure,as a whole, can be very easily taken apart at any point therein, in theevent one or more of the springunits needs replacing or repair, bysimply opening one off the hooked ends 12 of that one of the straightcross-tie wires 12 in which the repairs are to be made and then drawingthat wire lengthwise until the faulty spring or wire "is reached torsubstitution by a, good one or other repairs thereto. After suchsubstitution or repairs the said with drawn straight wire 12 is pushedor drawn back into its original coupling-position for again hooking itssaid opened end 12 into fastened-place on the contracted middle-portion0 of itsproper border-springnext adjacentthe side-bar of the bed-frame.

Ordinary X-crossed intersecting auxiliary coils 16 are used between therows of spirals A for hoolnconnection with the topmostcoils of thelatter and duly aligning the upper level of the bed-spring structure inunit form, as customary.

I claim A bed-spring structure comprising, in con'il'iination, aplurality of perpendicular spirals each of which has a contractedclosely-wound intermediate section of a plurality of four or more coils,supports for said spirals in transverse rows along the structure, aborder-frame surmounting the structure, longitudinal wires havingstraight portions therein that alternate archedor humped portions'withdeep straight sides, the said deep straight sides of the humped portionsforming with companion deep straight sides deep ly depressed U-shapeseating wells or sockets for the reception of said closely-woundfouror-more coiled intermediate sections, and straight or unbentcross-tie wires transversely arranged along the rows of spirals andadapted for engagement with the top surface of each. oil the uppermostcoils of the intermediate sections and beneath the highpoint ofthc'respective hump portions of the said longitudinal wires forinterlocking-engagement in an unshiftable manner therewith and likewisewith the said contracted intermediate sections, substantially as shownand described. 1 V y In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

YVILLARD OED T ATHROP.

